Western Power was partly responsible for a downed light pole giving two 15-year-olds electric shocks last month, Energy Minister Mike Nahan says.
While walking to school on March 16, Tariq Rowles stood on a wire fence running alongside a Greenfields road then touched the pole, which was bent over after being hit by a car in October.
Chevaunne Bussola was also shocked but not as badly as her friend, who stopped breathing and was later placed in an induced coma in hospital.
The regulator is yet to release its report into the incident, but Western Power has finalised an internal investigation and advised Dr Nahan of the key findings.
He said it was unusual to announce anything before the EnergySafety report, but public confidence was best served by providing an update.
"Tariq and Chevaunne and their family and friends deserve to know what happened on that morning," Dr Nahan told parliament on Wednesday.
State-owned Western Power told the minister the pole had been de-energised after being hit by the car.
However, a few weeks later a worker accidentally switched it back on while attempting to restore electricity supplies in the area.
Dr Nahan said it was clear the overlap between privately and publicly owned power assets needed to be carefully managed.
The road was private until about 19 months ago, and in the wake of the accident, the City of Mandurah and Western Power were disputing whose asset it was.
Dr Nahan said school friends and a doctor who happened to be passing by appeared to have saved Tariq's life, administering CPR before paramedics arrived.
The two teenagers were on their way to full recovery, the minister said.
Western Power chief executive Paul Italiano said the incident was disappointing.
"I am relieved that Tariq Rowles and Chevaunne Bussola are both on their way to a full recovery," Mr Italiano said.
"There were steps that Western Power could have taken to prevent the incident.
"Importantly, our investigation did not find a systemic failure, however, we have taken steps to immediately review processes and work practices."
Mr Italiano said Western Power had also examined other street lights damaged over the past five years and confirmed that none posed a potential safety issue.
Share
